Presidency blasts Atiku over fuel subsidy pledge

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has outlined his plans to tackle Nigeria's insecurity issues if elected as President. Speaking in a Hausa-language interview on the PAP show, Atiku acknowledged the grave security challenges plaguing the country. These include the terrorist activities of Boko Haram/ISWAP in the North East, banditry and other criminal activities in the North West, separatist movements by IPOB in the South-East, and kidnapping in the South West. These incidents have resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of many more.

To address these security concerns, Atiku proposed increasing the number of security personnel and providing them with adequate resources. He recalled a past meeting with a president who sought his advice on the matter. Atiku suggested summoning all security chiefs to tackle the issue, but expressed disappointment in their failure to act.

He also criticized the alleged misappropriation of public funds, which he claimed contributed to the situation. Despite these challenges, Atiku declared his intention to restore the fuel subsidy if elected in the 2027 general elections, despite previous removals not having improved the lives of Nigerians.